Clasp construction for barrettes and the like

ABSTRACT

A clasp construction for barrettes and the like comprising a pair of elongated spring-tempered strips with the ends of each strip secured to the adjacent ends of the other strip in reversed relation, i.e., one end of the first strip in overlying relation with respect to the adjacent end of the second strip, and with the other end of the first strip in underlying relation with respect to the adjacent end of the other strip, whereby to impart a tension to said strips that maintains the assembled strips in arcuate relation, but wherein the assembled strips may be snapped from a concave position to a convex position and vice versa, the clasp further comprising a substantially straight arm secured to one end of the strips and in general alignment therewith, said arm and said strips defining a closed position when the strips are concavely disposed with respect to the arm and defining an open position when the strips are convexly disposed with respect to the arm.

United States Patent Edward Buglio; Luigi Catanzaro, both of Cranston, R.I. [21] Appl. No. 83,112

[72] Inventors [22] Filed Oct. 22, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 1 l, 1972 [73] Assignee Schick Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Providence, R.I.

[5 4] CLASP CONSTRUCTION FOR BARRETTES AND THE LIKE 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 132/48 [51] Int. Cl A45d 8/24 [50] Field of Search 132/48, 46 R, 37; 128/325, 337; 24/259 HC 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,389,709 6/1968 Sidelman 132/46 R FOREIGN PATENTS 14,580 6/1903 Great Britain 132/48 Primary ExaminerRusse11 R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill Attorney-Salter & Michaelson ABSTRACT: A clasp construction for barrettes and the like comprising a pair of elongated spring-tempered strips with the ends of each strip secured to the adjacent ends of the other strip in reversed relation, i.e., one end of the first strip in overlying relation with respect to the adjacent end of the second strip, and with the other end of the first strip in underlying relation with respect to the adjacent end of the other strip, whereby to impart a tension to said strips that maintains the assembled strips in arcuate relation, but wherein the assembled strips may be snapped from a concave position to a convex position and vice versa, the clasp further comprising a substantially straight arm secured to one end of the strips and in general alignment therewith, said arm and said strips defining a closed position when the strips are concavely disposed with respect to the arm and defining an open position when the strips are convexly disposed with respect to the arm.

PATENTEUJANHBYZ 3I633592 Inventors: Edward ,Buglia, Luz i Catanzaro, by 110W M Att ys.

CLASP CONSTRUCTION FOR BARRETTES AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been desirable to provide a clasp for barrettes and the like where the clamping arm may selectively assume and maintain an open and a closed position, but which at the same time is of simple construction and has a minimum of movable parts.

There are numerous barrettes in use wherein the clamping arm of the barrette is spring-urged to an open position and wherein the clamping arm is maintained in closed position by some sort of a releasable latch means. Such releasable latch means are not only of intricate mechanical construction, thus greatly increasing the cost of the clasp, but, in addition, such latch means are frequently difficult to manipulate when the wearer must release same, since the wearer must fumble with her hands to find the latch and to properly manipulate it, where the barrette is in the wearers hair and it is desired to remove same.

On the other hand, relatively simple barrette constructions have been employed wherein the clamping arms of the barrette are resiliently maintained in closed position, without means for maintaining the barrette in an open position, thus necessitating that the arms of the barrette be manually spread and held apart during insertion and/or removal of the barrette from the wearer's hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a barrette having a togglelike action for resiliently and releasably maintaining the barrette in either open or closed position and wherein a minimum of parts are required for effecting this action.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a clasp construction for barrettes and the like which is extremely easy to open and close and therefore does not require any fumbling on the part of the wearer if the clasp has to be opened or closed while on the wearers head.

Another object is the provision of a barrette construction of the character described wherein only three working parts are required, wherein the device is simple and economically feasible to manufacture, and yet durable and effective in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention;

F IG. 1 is a plan view of one of the elongated strips that form a part ofour invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the assembled clasp;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the clasp in closed position in full lines and in open position in broke lines;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the clasp in closed position;

FIG. 5 is a section taken clasp in open position; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view ofthe assembled clasp.

on line 55 of FIG. 3 with the DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 a clasp construction particularly suitable for use in barrettes and the like, although not necessarily limited to such use. The clasp 10 comprises only three working parts, namely, a pair ofidentical strip members 12 and an arm 14.

The strip members 12 each comprise an elongated spring tempered metallic strip having openings 16 at opposite ends thereof and having a recessed portion 18 along one edge thereof, the depth of said recess being substantially equal to one-half the distance from the edge 20 of the strip to the center line 22 thereof. It will be noted that the recess 18 extends for a major portion of the length of strip 12, and specifically that the length of said recessed portion is substantially greater than one-half the length of the overall strip. It will further be noted that a semicircular notch or cutout 24 is provided at the center of recessed portion 18.

As previously stated, the two strips 12 that form a part of our invention are identically constructed and are secured to each other at opposite ends by means of rivets 26 which extend through the aligned openings 16, although any suitable mechanical means may be employed for effecting securement of the ends of the strips to each other. The important thing is that when the ends of the strips are secured to each other, the strips are reversed. Expressed differently, and as will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, strip is secured to strip 12 but its left-hand end overlying same but with its right-hand end underlying same. Thus, the strips 12 and 12a, in effect, cross over each other so that the opposite ends of the strips may be reversely disposed. This reversing of the strips imparts a tension to the assembled strips which causes the assembled strips to assume either a concave position as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3, or a convex position, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3. More specifically, the assembled strips define a togglelike action and may be readily snapped between the aforesaid concave and convex positions.

Secured to one end of the assembled strips 12 and 12a is the arm 14, and preferably the arm 14 is secured by one of the rivets 26, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The arm 14 extends for substantially the length of the assembled strips 12 and 12a and is provided with a corrugated portion 28 in order to enhance its gripping action. Since the arm 14 extends substantially straight, it will be seen that when the strips 12 and 12a are concavely disposed with respect to arm 14, as shown in full lines in FIG. 3, the arm is in closed position. When, however, the strips 12 and 12a are snapped to the broken-line position in FIG. 3, wherein they are convexly disposed with respect to arm 14, the clasp 10 then assumes its open position. Thus, in order to open or close the clasp, it is merely necessary to snap the assembledstrips l2 and 12a to their concave or convex positions.

When the strips 12 and 1211 are secured to each other, it is important to note that the recessed portions 18 are in engagement with each other, thus facilitating the crossing over of the strips and the securement of the strips to each other in their crossed over relation. Actually, the strips 12 and 12a engage each other adjacent the center portions of recesses 18, whereupon the semicircular notches 24 of the two strips cooperate to form a substantially complete circular opening, as shown at 30 in FIG. 2, which opening may conveniently be used to receive an ornamental member 32 which may be utilized for aesthetic purposes. It will be understood, however, that it is not at all essential to successful operation of the clasp 10 to have an ornamental member 32 since the clasp will function identically without such a member, it being understood that if no member 32 is utilized, then the semicircular notches 24 would be eliminated. It is also important to keep in mind that the length and depth of recess 18 is not actually critical, although in actual practice a recess of the length and depth illustrated and described herein has proven to be extremely satisfactory. In fact, it is not even absolutely essential that any recess 18 be provided; although where the strips possess the degree of width necessary to impart the necessary strength and resilience to the strips, recessing is desirable to facilitate the securement of the strips to each other in the aforedescribed crossed-over relation.

The clamping arm 14 may be constructed of any structural material, preferably metal, although it will be understood that there is no need to spring temper the arm 14, nor is such desirable.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. A clasp construction for barrettes and the like comprising first and second elongated spring-tempered strips, means securing said strips to each other adjacent their ends with one end of said first strip secured to the adjacent end of said second strip in overlying relation, and with the other end of said first strip secured to the other end of said second strip in underlying relation, whereby said strips are maintained under tension to effect a togglelike link which may be snapped to either a concave or convex position, and a substantially straight elongated arm secured to one end of said strips and extending in general alignment therewith, said arm cooperating with said strips to define a clasp which is in closed position when said strips are concavely disposed with respect to said arm, and which is in open position when the strips are snapped to their opposite convex position.

2. In the clasp of claim 1, the abutting edges of said strip being recessed.

3. In the clasp of claim 2, said strips being recessed to a point approximately halfway between their edges and their centerlines.

4. In the clasp of claim 2, said recesses being centrally disposed on said links and having a length more than one-half the length of said links.

5. In the clasp of claim 1, the abutting edges of said strips each having a centrally positioned cutout, said cutouts cooperating to define an opening adjacent the center of said clasp, and an ornamental member mounted in said opening and positioned on the side of said clasp opposite from said arm.

6. In the clasp of claim 1, the free end of said arm terminating adjacent to the end of said clasp opposite from the end to which said arm is secured. 

1. A clasp construction for barrettes and the like comprising first and second elongated spring-tempered strips, means securing said strips to each other adjacent their ends with one end of said first strip secured to the adjacent end of said second strip in overlying relation, and with the other end of said first strip secured to the other end of said second strip in underlying relation, whereby said strips are maintained under tension to effect a togglelike link which may be snapped to either a concave or convex position, and a substantially straight elongated arm secured to one end of said strips and extending in general alignment therewith, said arm cooperating with said strips to define a clasp which is in closed position when said strips are concavely disposed with respect to said arm, and which is in open position when the strips are snapped to their opposite convex position.
 2. In the clasp of claim 1, the abutting edges of said strip being recessed.
 3. In the clasp of claim 2, said strips being recessed to a point approximately halfway between their edges and their centerlines.
 4. In the clasp of claim 2, said recesses being centrally disposed on said links and having a length more than one-half the length of said links.
 5. In the clasp of claim 1, the abutting edges of said strips each having a centrally positioned cutout, said cutouts cooperating to define an opening adjacent the center of said clasp, and an ornamental member mounted in said opening and positioned on the side of said clasp opposite from said arm.
 6. In the clasp of claim 1, the free end of said arm terminating adjacent to the end of said clasp opposite from the end to which said arm is secured. 